Amid growing speculations about the possible imposition of the governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday clarified the Centre has no intention of taking such a step against its rival PTI-led government in the province. His remarks came days after the recent federal cabinet meeting discussed the option of governor’s rule in KP. The huddle blamed KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s administration for using “state machinery to attack the Centre” during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “do-or-die” protest in Islamabad, well-placed sources had told the media. Speaking to the media, Adviser to PM on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Thursday said: “The federal cabinet in its meeting discussed the option of imposing governor’s rule in KP but a consensus could not emerge and the matter has been deferred for further deliberations.” Addressing a press conference, the defence minister, while referring to Islamabad unrest, said that PTI tried to sink the country’s economy. “PTI launched a third onslaught on the Centre which was thwarted.” Rubbishing the PTI’s claim about causalities at the hands of law enforcers, the minister said: “Security personnel were martyred during the PTI’s protest but found no evidence of any citizen’s death.” A day earlier, PTI claimed: “At least 12 people were killed on the spot and the bodies were not handed over to the relatives.” Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram slammed the government for “denying the facts”. The government authorities said that five security personnel, three Rangers and two Punjab police personnel were martyred during the protests of the former ruling party. The defence minister said: “The KP government attacked Centre with [official] weapons and equipment.” He advised the provincial government to focus on the law and order situation in the province in general and in Parachinar in particular. The death toll from ongoing tribal clashes in District Kurram has risen to 124, as two more individuals lost their lives and 10 others were injured in fresh incidents of firing, sources told the media. The police confirmed that the latest spell of violence, now entering its tenth day, has claimed 124 lives in total and injured 178 others. Meanwhile, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, during his interaction with journalists, said that the PPP was not in favour of the governor’s rule in KP. He further said that if a “militant wing” of the political party is formed then the ban could be considered. The governor said that the embattled PTI should review its behaviour. Separately, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi has warned that ‘imposing a ban on PTI would be a significant mistake.’ Speaking to the media during his appearance at an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, Qureshi expressed concern over reports about the potential imposition of Governor’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), calling it tantamount to sowing division and hatred within the province. Qureshi stressed that banning PTI would not be beneficial for the country’s political landscape. He argued that all political parties should focus on the nation’s well-being, and ‘attempting to crush PTI would not be in the best interest of Pakistan’s politics.’ He further criticised the government for banning other political groups such as Tehreek-e-Labbaik and Pakistan Awami Tehreek, questioning the effectiveness of such measures. Qureshi also thanked the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Maulana Fazlur Rehman for rejecting the idea of banning PTI. He expressed his gratitude towards Mahmood Achakzai for opposing the move as well. Earlier on Friday, Senator Aimal Wali Khan, leader of the Awami National Party (ANP), expressed solidarity with anyone working for peace, emphasizing the deep grief within the Pashtun community over the recent Kurram incidents. He further stated that imposing Governor’s Rule in K-P would not resolve the ongoing crises in the region. Speaking alongside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi at Wali Bagh, Aimal Wali Khan invited all political parties, including the chief minister, to participate in an All-Parties Conference (APC) focused on peace. “The situation is dire, with both my district and the chief minister’s district now surrounded by terrorists,” remarked Governor Kundi. During their meeting, the two leaders held detailed discussions on terrorism and the recent Kurram incidents. Aimal Wali Khan also highlighted the long-standing ideological partnership between the ANP and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). In his remarks, Qureshi also requested the authorities to facilitate a meeting with PTI Chairman Imran Khan, suggesting that such a meeting would help in addressing political issues. Meanwhile,Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Friday, signaled the possibility of banning the PTI, urging both civil and military leaders to formulate a strategy to prevent any recurrence of PTI’s recent attempt to storm Islamabad, which he claimed posed a serious threat to the nation’s hard-won peace and macroeconomic stability. “Pakistan’s reputation has been severely damaged,” the Prime Minister stated. “This marks the third or fourth attempt by PTI to invade the federal capital in the past eight months. Such disruptive actions were unheard of before 2014. It all began with the 126-day sit-in in 2014, which severely harmed both the economy and the country’s image,” he added during a high-level meeting he chaired to discuss the law and order situation. His remarks came just a day after the Balochistan Assembly passed a resolution calling for a ban on PTI due to its “anti-Pakistan” activities. A similar resolution was introduced in the Punjab Assembly on Friday. They were made meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was attended by federal cabinet members, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, senior government officials, and law enforcement representatives.